D. Barclay "Barc" Slater

D. Barclay "Barc" Slater was an American conservationist, philanthropist, and businessperson renowned for his pivotal role in large-scale land conservation efforts across the Western United States. A dedicated board member of The Nature Conservancy for over two decades, he leveraged his expertise in real estate and finance to orchestrate the protection of hundreds of thousands of acres of critical wildlife habitat and working landscapes. His strategic vision and collaborative approach with entities like the United States Forest Service and various ranching families left a lasting impact on the American conservation movement.

Early life and education

Born in San Francisco in 1948, David Barclay Slater was raised with a deep appreciation for the natural landscapes of Northern California and the Sierra Nevada. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied economics and developed an early interest in environmental policy. His formative years included extensive travel and backpacking throughout the American West, experiences that fundamentally shaped his conservation ethos. After completing his undergraduate degree, he pursued further studies in business administration, which equipped him with the analytical tools he would later apply to complex conservation transactions.

Career

Slater's professional career began in commercial real estate development in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he gained a reputation for innovative project management and land use planning. In the late 1970s, he shifted his focus entirely to conservation, joining the California chapter of The Nature Conservancy as a volunteer advisor. His major breakthrough came with the facilitation of the Maloit Ranch conservation easement in Montana, a landmark deal that protected a vast sagebrush steppe ecosystem from subdivision. He played a key role in the Great Plains partnership with the American Prairie Reserve, helping to assemble a connected wildlife corridor. Slater was instrumental in the Colorado River basin projects, working with the Bureau of Land Management and private cattle ranches to ensure sustainable water rights for both agriculture and native fish species. His expertise was also sought by the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, where he advised on transboundary conservation strategies.

Personal life

Slater married Eleanor Vance, a botanist and fellow conservation advocate, in 1975; the couple had two children. They maintained a primary residence in Marin County but spent considerable time at their retreat in the Eastern Sierra, a property he placed under a permanent conservation easement with the Trust for Public Land. An avid fly fisherman, he served on the board of Trout Unlimited and was a dedicated supporter of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. He was also a patron of the Autry Museum of the American West, reflecting his commitment to preserving both natural and cultural heritage. Slater passed away in 2012 after a brief illness.

Legacy

Slater's legacy is most visibly etched into the landscapes he helped preserve, from the grasslands of Wyoming to the redwood forests of Humboldt County. His innovative use of conservation finance tools, such as bargain sales and mitigation banking, became models for organizations like the Conservation Fund and Ducks Unlimited. The Barc Slater Fellowship in Conservation Practice, established posthumously at Stanford University, trains the next generation of conservation leaders. His collaborative philosophy, emphasizing partnerships between private landowners, tribal nations like the Blackfeet Nation, and federal agencies, fundamentally advanced the field of landscape-scale conservation in North America. Category:American conservationists Category:1948 births Category:2012 deaths Category:People from San Francisco Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni